It’s frustrating when you have the time to wash the surface of a mirror just to return moments later to see it cloudy or marred by streaks. The culprit is likely the cleaner or procedure you are currently using, so ditch your old routine for better streak-free practices.
Cleaning Solutions
Believe it or not, the cleanup solution you are currently using could be causing streaks. Create an effective cleaner using household items such as dish soap, lemon, vinegar or rubbing alcohol. In a large bowl of warm water, mix 1 or 2 teaspoon of dish soap and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. The dish detergent diluted by water provides a standard amount of cleaner, while the lemon cuts through dirt. Alternately, a blend of equal parts warm water and white vinegar will clean dirty mirrors without causing streaks. For stuck-on debris, such as toothpaste or hairspray to a bathroom mirror, rubbing alcohol applied right to some cloth breaks down dirt.
The Proper Tools
Remove paper towels out of your glass cleaning routine. Not only do paper towels trigger pesky streaks, they leave behind contamination of lint on your mirror too. Instead, use a microfiber cloth. The nonabrasive cloth absorbs moisture faster than a paper towel, and the cloth can be washed and reused multiple times. You might even use a little squeegee to substitute paper towels — the rubber blade removes moisture at a uniform style without leaving anything behind.
Proper Process
When you are cleaning a mirror, be conservative with the cleaning formula. Spray a little layer of cleaner rather than saturating the glass, because the surplus liquid may cause streaks. After spraying the glass, wipe the surface with the microfiber cloth until it’s completely dry. If you are using a squeegee, remove the moisture in horizontal motions, wiping off the rubber blade between each swipe.
Remove Bathroom Fog
When post-shower humidity and heat leave your bathroom mirror foggy, resist the urge to wipe the glass with your towel or a nearby tissue that will leave behind contamination of lint. Instead, use your hair dryer. The focused burst of warm air functions to eliminate the condensation fast and without streaks.